The European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium have concluded negotiations and signed an implementation agreement for the development of IRIS², the European Union's new satellite network.
The agreement provides for the addition of 66 satellites in low Earth orbit, bringing the total number of the main formation to 348. The program is now moving from the planning phase to full development, with the aim of the first launches taking place by 2029.
The negotiations, which started in January 2026 and ended on 7 August, covered the design and capacity of the system, the deployment schedule, the target price and the investments of private entities.
European manufacturers have pledged to deliver the additional satellites, which will have enhanced resilience to meet defence, security and emergency response needs.
What does the agreement provide?
The future formation will consist of 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit. Optional additional elements are also provided to support specialised missions.
The Commission, the European Space Agency, the EU Agency for the Space Programme and SpaceRISE have defined the next steps for the implementation of the project.
These include:
European manufacturers have pledged to deliver the additional satellites, which will have enhanced resilience to meet defence, security and emergency response needs.
What does the agreement provide?
The future formation will consist of 330 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 in medium Earth orbit. Optional additional elements are also provided to support specialised missions.
The Commission, the European Space Agency, the EU Agency for the Space Programme and SpaceRISE have defined the next steps for the implementation of the project.
These include:
the completion of the detailed design of the network;
the preparation of the construction of the satellites;
the creation of safe ground infrastructure;
the provision of launch services,
and the gradual provision of connectivity services from 2029.
the preparation of the construction of the satellites;
the creation of safe ground infrastructure;
the provision of launch services,
and the gradual provision of connectivity services from 2029.
Enhancing security and resilience
The European Commission has decided to increase the capacity of IRIS² beyond the original design, citing changing security conditions.
The addition of the 66 satellites aims to strengthen the defence, security and emergency services. According to the Commission, the expansion of the network will increase secure government capacity by 60% within the EU and by 54% worldwide.
Once operational, IRIS² will provide secure and reliable connectivity to governments, defence forces, security services and emergency response mechanisms across Europe.
The network will be accessible to authorised government users from all EU Member States, as well as from the participating countries, which currently include Norway and Iceland.
The system is intended to keep communications secure during critical operations, such as disaster response, critical infrastructure protection, and security mission support.
European industry in the project
The program will be implemented through a public-private partnership. The SpaceRISE consortium consists of SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, while the industrial group includes, among others, Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, OHB and Aerospacelab.
Start-ups, small and medium-sized companies and mid-caps developing space technologies are also expected to participate in the project.
SpaceRISE will undertake, together with European industrial partners, the construction of the satellites, the procurement of the launch services and the development of the ground infrastructure.
IRIS² funding
Accelerating the programme and increasing its capacity entails additional investment. The funding will come from the EU budget for 2028-2034, as well as additional contributions from Member States and third countries.
Poland has already committed €656 million and Hungary €500 million, while Spain announced investments of €1.6 to 2 billion. Additional financing agreements with Member States are being finalised.
The Commission sent a letter to the European Parliament and the Member States, informing them of the outcome of the negotiations and the start of the implementation phase.
"A step towards Europe's digital sovereignty"
Defence and Space Commissioner Andrews Koubilius described the agreement as a decisive step for Europe's security and digital sovereignty.
"By accelerating the delivery of timely defence and security services and strengthening the IRIS² architecture, we will not only put the network up and running ahead of schedule, but also enhance secure government capacity by more than 60% within the Union," he said.
The European Commission had signed a 12-year concession agreement with SpaceRISE in December 2024 for the design, construction, development and operation of the system.
IRIS² aims to strengthen Europe's autonomy in the field of satellite communications and to maintain the connectivity of governments, emergency services and citizens, even in remote areas or in times of crisis.
